Italy's electoral reform could halve women's share in parliament

Italy is poised to pass a sweeping electoral reform championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with the lower house expected to vote in early to mid-October. The bill introduces a majority seat bonus for any coalition reaching at least 42% of the vote and modifies the voting system by adding partial preference voting while keeping party-chosen lead candidates. Crucially, it largely discards the 60/40 gender quota that limited candidate lists to no more than 60% of one gender, leaving only a few seats under that rule.

Political scientists note that, without enforced gender balance and given voters' tendency to favor men when preferences are allowed, the proportion of women MPs could drop from one outlet 33% to between 15% and 20%. The legislation could see up to 240 closed-list leaders, potentially all male, and only a limited number of seats subject to the previous gender ratio.